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- Tasks: Support expense planning and forecasting while providing actionable insights for cost management.
- Company: Join Canada Life UK, a modern and agile organisation focused on building better futures.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, private medical insurance, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance while partnering with senior stakeholders in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong analytical and communication skills; experience in expense management preferred.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements available to support your work-life balance.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the Senior Accountant role at Canada Life Assurance Europe plc. Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.
Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has been operating in the United Kingdom since 1903 with hundreds of respected employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues. Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer‑focused business by providing expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third‑party customers.
Job Purpose
The Senior Accountant (Expense Finance Business Partner) reports to the Expense Budgeting & Forecasting Manager within the UK FP&A team, providing dedicated finance support to designated business functions. Responsibilities include expense planning, forecasting, and delivering actionable insight to support effective cost management. Experience in expense management is required; a financial services background is not essential. The successful candidate will partner credibly with senior stakeholders, ensure robust allocations and benefit tracking, and play a critical part in enabling the UK to meet long‑term expense targets and the Group’s externally disclosed expense‑efficiency commitments. Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills are essential to embed cost discipline across supported functions.
Key Accountabilities
- Contribution to Board and Committee papers and presentations in respect of the Wealth and Asset Management entities.
- Contribute and assist in the preparation of the annual Business Plan and quarterly forecasts/reforecasts for the CLUK division across expenses.
- Provide timely and relevant insight and information to support the UK Division and key Business Lines in delivering their expense targets against Plan.
- Support with allocations owning the impacts for each function, document basis and facilitate discussions whilst working alongside the FP&A partnering team.
- Support ad‑hoc projects where possible, delivering timely stakeholder MI to assist decision making in the business.
- Be aware of potential changes to the forecast/budget and the impact on allocations, as well as working with the wider FP&A team to address issues.
- Further develop industry‑wide knowledge by working with the wider FP&A team.
- Attend meetings and join conversations to gain a more balanced and in‑depth view of business functions.
Desired Knowledge / Experience / Skills
- Wealth Management and/or Life Insurance Industry experience – desirable, but not essential.
- Qualified accountant.
- Strong ability to apply analytical skills to business problems.
- Excellent communication skills – able to address non‑technical and technical audiences in formal and informal settings.
- Good attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong Microsoft Office experience and comfortable working with multiple systems for reporting and data manipulation.
Benefits Of Working At Canada Life
We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.
How We Work At Canada Life
Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward. We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.
Diversity and Inclusion
Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.
Flexible Working
We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.
Senior Accountant in City of London employer: Canada Life Assurance Europe plc
Contact Detail:
Canada Life Assurance Europe plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Accountant in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work at Canada Life or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Canada Life's values and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their mission of building better futures.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your analytical skills and relationship-building abilities. We want to see how you’ve tackled challenges and made an impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us that you’re serious about joining the team at Canada Life.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Accountant in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Accountant role. Highlight your experience in expense management and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for Canada Life. Share your passion for finance and how your background aligns with our mission of building better futures.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical skills, be sure to include examples of how you've applied these in past roles. We love seeing how you tackle business problems and deliver actionable insights!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canada Life Assurance Europe plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Accountant, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This shows you can provide actionable insights, which is crucial for the position.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves partnering with senior stakeholders, think of examples where you've successfully built relationships in past jobs. Be prepared to share how you influenced decisions or improved processes through collaboration. This will highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with Canada Life's operations and their focus on customer-centric solutions. Research their recent initiatives in expense management and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. This shows you're genuinely interested in the company.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions that test your technical knowledge, especially around expense planning and forecasting. Review common accounting principles and be ready to explain how you've applied them in real-world scenarios. This will demonstrate your expertise and readiness for the role.
